"Mark and Bev Tindall" wrote in message .

"Rowland Croucher" wrote:

Rowland: Hi Mark: good to meet again! <> 6. THEOLOGICAL. There are two questions here: 6-1. Can infant baptism be a valid baptism?

M: More importantly, is baptism still relevant for any 21st century Christian?

R: Only if they believe Jesus Christ still lives, and obeying his injunctions is important!

The essence of the Christian gospel is that God accepts us unconditionally.

M: It would be nice if the church recognised this and put it in practice. Will my lesbian friend be accepted in your church?

R: Yes.

M: Will the pot smoker up the road be accepted?

R: Yes.

M: Will they be able to be a minister in your church?

R: Every follower of Jesus is a 'minister'

M: Will they be given a place as an elder? ...

R: Would you make this absolutely unconditional? (Age for instance? Immaturity?)

M: What is the meaning of "unconditional" again???

R: Acceptance of everyone as persons must be unconditional for any Christian (hence my call - Jesus' call, I believe - to disengage such acceptance from any ordinance at all, even baptism). Roles within any institution of humans, I would have thought, are conditional - yes - upon experience and giftedness. (You don't invite your two-year old to run a family :-)

M: Mark, Believer-In-Exile

R: Let's keep talking Mark. You have (very honestly) provided the clue to your rage with the church. You got rejected by it/them somewhere back in your life. I'm talking with a few others who feel the same way. Not uncommon...

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Shalom!

Rowland Croucher

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